Putting Chicks in the Chicken Coop

[BaileyJean]

We have chicks ranging from 1 1/2 months old to 3 weeks old (they are Silkies). I made a creep area for the chicks in my chicken pens so they can have their chick food and their own water. Now that the weather is getting nicer, can the chicks go out into the coop, the lowest temperature in the night is 55. I know that the hens will need to establish a pecking order, but will the hens peck the chicks to death? Is there any thing else I should do, or should I just put them in the coop with the other chickens?

 

[T Dan]

Introducing new stock to any established coop always causes some initial friction between the old and new. Because chickens are very territorial, it always reults in the old pecking the new comers in their bid to affirm their hierarchy and establish the pecking order. However, in my experience the chicks at 6 to 7 weeks old are able to cope with this unwanted attention if the run is large enough for them to run away to relative safety. However, I personnaly think that your chicks which are only 3 weeks old are too young to be integrated because at such a young age they stand every chance of suffering what could be a fatal peck.

 

[Fierlin1182]

3 weeks old is a little young for integration, they are better equipped to defend themselves when they're around 1 1/2 to 2 months old (that's when we introduce them to the flock).

3 weeks is also a little young for going outside, most peeps recommend 4 wk so they have enough feathers to keep out the cold. Anyway, what does help is if you keep the hens and chicks in adjoining pens for some time and let them get used to each others' presence.

Good luck!

 

[andycowboy]

Good morning!

I agree with both T Dan and Fierlin 1182; however, due to setup restrictions, I introduced 1-week-old chicks into the coop with 2-month0old girls, and kept a very close watch on them for several hours, then several days. To my surprise - and welcome amazement - the olde girls immediately became caretakers and guardians, bunching together as the evening came on to help keep the babies warm, and grouping together when I entered the coop, protecting the babies from the giant human!

Unfortunately, I had to remove the kids from the coop about a week into it, due to very inclement weather - minor cold front (got down in the low-to-mid 60s at night) - and extremely hard downpours with accompnaying winds. The heat lamp bulb got too wet and went out in the middle of the night, and I lost 2 babies - they were soaked and cold to the touch. I brought the other 7 babies inside to the comfort of the utility room - in a box - and they're all fine. They've been inside for about a week, and have grown larger and they're feathering as they should. The weather has straightened out, and the babies are noticeably cramped - guess they got used to having room in the coop right quick! So I'm going to reintroduce them to the girls, probably this morning, and watch them very c,osely again to make sure all is well.

Point I should make: this is not the recommended or "normal" way of doing things, but this is also the first time I've brought chicks inside for any reason. My first flock a few years ago did fine in the coop from a couple of days old with a heat lamp in the coop, and a large overturned box for shelter. I'm not nearly as concerned about the Spring temps - except for the dang cold front that came in with rain - I'm more concerned about the older girls accepting the babies.

So, find what works for you and your flock - just keep a very close eye on reactions from exiting birds when introducing new ones - and remove them immediately if you see pecking going on, especially if you see evidence of blood on the younger/newer birds!

Good luck with your venture - it's a lot of fun! Have a great day, and God bless!

 

[highpointfarm]

Good morning!

I agree with both T Dan and Fierlin 1182; however, due to setup restrictions, I introduced 1-week-old chicks into the coop with 2-month0old girls, and kept a very close watch on them for several hours, then several days. To my surprise - and welcome amazement - the olde girls immediately became caretakers and guardians, bunching together as the evening came on to help keep the babies warm, and grouping together when I entered the coop, protecting the babies from the giant human!

Unfortunately, I had to remove the kids from the coop about a week into it, due to very inclement weather - minor cold front (got down in the low-to-mid 60s at night) - and extremely hard downpours with accompnaying winds. The heat lamp bulb got too wet and went out in the middle of the night, and I lost 2 babies - they were soaked and cold to the touch. I brought the other 7 babies inside to the comfort of the utility room - in a box - and they're all fine. They've been inside for about a week, and have grown larger and they're feathering as they should. The weather has straightened out, and the babies are noticeably cramped - guess they got used to having room in the coop right quick! So I'm going to reintroduce them to the girls, probably this morning, and watch them very c,osely again to make sure all is well.

Point I should make: this is not the recommended or "normal" way of doing things, but this is also the first time I've brought chicks inside for any reason. My first flock a few years ago did fine in the coop from a couple of days old with a heat lamp in the coop, and a large overturned box for shelter. I'm not nearly as concerned about the Spring temps - except for the dang cold front that came in with rain - I'm more concerned about the older girls accepting the babies.

So, find what works for you and your flock - just keep a very close eye on reactions from exiting birds when introducing new ones - and remove them immediately if you see pecking going on, especially if you see evidence of blood on the younger/newer birds!

Good luck with your venture - it's a lot of fun! Have a great day, and God bless!

x2

 

[BaileyJean]

Thank you for the replies

The older chicks are doing good out in the coop. I will leave the younger one in the brooder for another few weeks.

 

[KimKimWilliamso]

I have mentioned it in a few other posts on this topic, but I have three 8 1/2 week old chicks (2 hens 1 Roo) and they have been in an indoor pen form the start, and had been off the light for weeks. This past weekend I picked up two new chicks, 4 weeks old (2 hens). On Sunday Night, I put my older chicks in the new coop for the first night, and put a cat carrier with the younger chicks on the floor in the coop. I figured the exposure would help them get used to eachother. During the day, I have the older chicks running the run, and the younger chicks in a large XPEN. They dont pay any attention to eachother. They dont seem to in the coop either. However, when I hold a 4 wk old in my hand, infront of the older flock, the girls are curious but the Roo instantly trys to attack. Im hoping a few more weeks of this exposure will eventually teach them to get along. So I agree with and am practicing the whole "adjoined pens" concept.

 

[BaileyJean]

I think have a safe place for the chicks to get away from the hens is a must! My chicks will walk around the hens, but when a hen pecks at a chick, the chick runs back into its protected place. Smart Chicks!